How Did the Weirdness Come About?

For those of you who might not be from New Jersey (or who are, but have blocked it out), let me explain what Weird NJ is.

Weird NJ began as a semi-annual newsletter in 1989, founded by two friends, coincidentally both named Mark (Sceurman and Moran).  Mark the Second heard Mark the First doing a radio interview on WFMU (which you think would know better), got all excited that someone else (with the same name, even) was turned on by New Jersey roadside oddities and peculiar local history, contacted Mark the First, and (not surprisingly) they began a beautiful relationship together.  The newsletter developed into a magazine, and as of this writing has amassed 39 issues.  In 2003, a sort of “best of” was compiled, thus forming The Guidebook for the Odyssey.

Here’s their official website.  

When Mark the First was asked if he had ever been truly creeped out by anything he had researched, he replied:

“It can get kind of weird sometimes when you’re talking with a person, then all of a sudden you realize that they have a completely different perception of reality than you do. Then you think to yourself, ‘this person is on a whole other planet than I am, anything could happen right now!’ Some people really do exist in an alternative dimension, and when you interact with them, it can give you an uneasy feeling.”

Oh, Mark.  Silly, naïve, innocent Mark.  I get weirder things than “alternative dimensions” in my breakfast cereal.  (Which I eat dry, by the way, with an accompanying glass of milk, and that is not weird, despite what some people insist—you know who you are).  Seriously, Mark the First, hang around with me for more than twenty-six minutes and I’ll show you alternative dimensions that even Michio Kaku hasn’t thought of.  (Anyone who doesn’t know who Michio Kaku is needs to fix this immediately; start watching the Science Channel more).

Really, are any of these people that the Marks have talked to any more removed from reality than the guy in line ahead of me at the McDonald’s who asked me if I’d ever considered that I might just be a giant brain in a vat?

Or how about this?  I had a guy—a complete stranger—in Sandusky, Ohio, contact me on a message board community I frequent and offer me $800 to drive out to his house and clobber him in the balls with a piece of wood.  There would be no sex involved—he was very clear about that.  All I’d have to do is go to Sandusky, smash him in the applebag with a 2 x 4, and leave.  For $800.  In cash.  And he’ll probably supply his own piece of wood.

Not weird enough for you yet, Mark? Okay.  Last year, I was sitting in the Walmart pharmacy waiting for my dad’s cholesterol medication to be refilled when I was joined by a heavyset man of about 30.  He told me that he was new to the area and was having trouble making friends, especially because of “the lifestyle.”  I asked him what his lifestyle consisted of, even knowing that I was asking for trouble.  He explained that he was an Adult Baby.  You know, one of those grown men who wear diapers, eat baby food, and roll around in a gigantic playpen all day.  Out of everyone in Walmart, Baby Huey chose me to open up to about his problems socially connecting.

So, this is what the Marks are up against. 

I think I can do it.